To the people of Alabama: Please understand that Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd does not speak for all Australians.

His insensitive rebuttal to comments made by comedian Robin Williams are short-

sighted and narrow-minded and are not representative of Australian opinion.

Williams is an entertainer and a comedian. His job is to make people laugh, and that is exactly what he did.

Australians love him and saw the humorous side of his commentary.

Broadly speaking, we Australians can laugh at ourselves and do not take ourselves too seriously. We truly treasure our unique relationship with the people of the United States, and found Robin Williams’ observations genuinely funny.

It’s a pity that our prime minister chose to make such crass remarks without thought or consideration to the people of Alabama. Our sincere and long-distance apologies.

DAVID PUDDY

Langwarrin, Australia

Unfair sales tax

isn’t the answer

I cannot refrain from commenting on the article in the April 7 Press-Register ("Higher sales tax in future for city?") on a possible higher sales tax for the city.

When the city annexed the Tillman’s Corner area, those of us on Bellingrath Road were effectively brought into the city, because for most of us the only place to shop is in Tillman’s Corner. We could not, however, vote on the issue.

Though I went from paying 7.5 percent sales tax to 9 percent sales tax, I received no city benefits. For example, I pay for my garbage to be picked up.

Another sales tax increase is especially egregious to those of us of middle and lower incomes.

The only fair and stable revenue for the city, county and state of Alabama is the property tax. You pay your property tax once a year, but whether you purchase a pack of gum or groceries for a family, you are paying more tax each time.

Those people who own vast amounts of property or live in a $250,000 home pay the same amount of tax used to secure revenue as those who own a lot and a $60,000 home. I realize there is a budget shortfall, but the answer to this deficit is not another unfair and inequitable sales tax.

CAROL LEE

Theodore

Museum can be a

home for artifacts

My parents have moved into a more modern and smaller home, which has necessitated choices concerning some of their life-long possessions. These items included family heirlooms, old cast-iron pots, very old publications and other items of historical interest.

My parents chose to give me quite a number of these items, and this caused me to pause and consider the "highest and best use" for these items while being respectful of my parents’ wishes.

Had I taken the items and stored them at my home, they would be seen and appreciated by a limited number of people. So I contacted the Museum of Mobile to see if these items were of interest to them as donations.

I provided the museum with digital photos and descriptions of the items. Their response was very positive, so I talked to my parents and they thought the idea was great.

I made an appointment with Lori Rockhold at the museum, loaded a number of the items in my truck and took my Dad with me to the meeting to provide history concerning the donations.

Lori was great with my Dad, who provided a legal pad worth of history. Two of the donations were so large that museum staff came out and picked them up.

The moral of this story is that these items of historical interest now have a home where they can be appreciated by many people. And there may even be a tax deduction coming.

It is difficult to find any reason why donating these items to our own Museum of Mobile was not absolutely the "highest and best use" in my situation, and I certainly encourage others to donate in the same manner.

J.D. DYESS

Mobile

Tennis center has

a broad impact

In the April 6 "Sound Off" column, a caller facetiously says, "What (Councilman Reggie ) Copeland needs to do is to build another tennis court and get his name on this side of town." What the caller has probably forgotten is the famous adage from Field of Dreams: "Build it and they will come."

The Copeland-Cox Tennis Center is one of Mobile’s premier assets, not only as a sports and recreation venue for Mobile residents, but as an engine of economic impact, through the thousands of players and accompanying supporters who come to Mobile each year.

The Tennis Center will host 20 non-local tournaments during 2010. A total of 8,100 players are expected to compete.

Those players will be accompanied by coaches, trainers, assistants, family and fans, all of whom contribute to the economic impact of the tournament by spending money on lodging, meals, shopping, transportation, entertainment, etc. during their stay.

Using actual data collected from these tournaments in prior years, it is estimated that approximately 18,400 people will come to Mobile, spending over 65,000 person-days in the area. These people will spend over $17 million while here.

That increased spending will result in approximately $2,225,000 in additional tax revenue for the city of Mobile, and an additional $606,500 tax revenue for Mobile County.

From its humble beginning of eight courts built by the city at the behest of the Mobile Tennis Club in 1958, the facility has grown to be the largest public facility in the country and has paid for itself many times over.